05/26/2026
USCIS has released a new memo that could make it much harder for many people to get a green card through adjustment of status inside the United States. The memo says USCIS officers should only approve these cases in “extraordinary circumstances,” which is a major change from how these cases have traditionally been handled. It is also a violation of the clear language of the immigration laws.
To be clear, this is a policy change. It is not a change of the immigration laws. Right now, there are still many unanswered questions. We do not yet know how USCIS plans to apply this policy, when it could take effect, or whether it will actually be enforced the way the memo suggests. We also expect lawsuits challenging the policy in court.
If you have a pending adjustment of status case or were planning to file one, it is important to stay informed. Our office is closely monitoring this situation and will provide updates as more information becomes available.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced a new policy memo reiterating the fact that, consistent with long-standing immigration law and immigration court decisions, aliens seeking adjustment of status must do so through consular processing via the Department of State outside of the....
